On 11 February 2025, the world celebrates the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. This day reminds us of the crucial role women and girls play in driving scientific progress and innovation.
School environments play a vital role in inspiring young minds to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Similarly, as an exam board committed to supporting education, ISEB recognises the importance of inspiring curiosity and enthusiasm for these subjects among all students.
We encourage schools to celebrate this day by recognising the achievements of women in science and highlighting role models in STEM. Moreover, schools should create an inclusive learning environment where every student feels empowered to pursue their scientific aspirations.
Historically, many scientific fields have underrepresented women. Although significant progress has been made, gender disparities still exist in STEM careers. The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is an opportunity to celebrate female scientists, both past and present, and to inspire young girls to pursue their scientific aspirations.
To support discussions at school and at home, ISEB has created posters featuring six key female scientists who have made remarkable contributions to science. Download these posters from the CE Science subject page, and discover how these women made history:
– Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin (1910–1994) – Used X-rays to determine the structure of important molecules, including insulin, penicillin, and vitamin B12. Notably, Crowford Hodgkin won the 1964 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
– Jocelyn Bell Burnell (b. 1943) – Discovered pulsars, a type of star that emits electromagnetic radiation, while she was a student in 1967. Furthermore, she has served as president of the Royal Astronomical Society and, in 2021, received the prestigious Copley Medal. Today the scientific community recognises Jocelyn as a pioneer astrophysicist.
– Jane Goodall (b. 1934) – A world-renowned expert in ethology, Jane Goodall is best known for her groundbreaking studies on the behaviour of wild chimpanzees. Since 1960, her work in Tanzania’s Gombe Stream National Park has revolutionised primatology.
– Margaret (Maggie) Aderin-Pocock (b. 1968) – A space scientist and science communicator, Aderin-Pocock has a PhD in mechanical engineering. In particular, she contributed to the design and development of instruments for space satellites, including the Aeolus satellite, which measures wind speeds on Earth. She has also worked on the Gemini telescope in Chile, which analyses light from distant stars.
– Sarah Gilbert (b. 1962) – A virologist and key figure in the development of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. Remarkably, she and her colleagues designed the vaccine just days after the genetic structure of the virus was published.
– Rosalind Franklin (1920–1958) – A biochemist whose X-ray crystallography work in 1952 provided key evidence for the discovery of DNA’s double-helix structure. Ultimately, her contributions were fundamental to one of the greatest scientific discoveries of the 20th century.
Schools can celebrate this day in various ways. For example, they can organise science talks and assemblies, hold classroom discussions, and plan career awareness sessions. These activities help support young women who wish to explore opportunities in STEM. More importantly, they inspire the next generation of female scientists.
Which key female figures in the world of science can you name?
